Parents of the 20 medical students rescued from the kidnappers’ den have admitted that they had lost hope of seeing their children again after they were kidnapped on their way for a medical outreach.
The 20 students, who are from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos, were traveling to Enugu for the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students’ annual convention when they were kidnapped by bandits.
Calls for their rescue came from every part of the country prompting the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to order the deployment of tactical operatives and assets, including helicopters, drones, and tactical vehicles, to ensure the swift rescue of the victims.
They were eventually rescued on Friday night with no ransom paid as claimed by the police.
Jubilation rented the air as sympathisers jubilated over the safe return of the students.
Reacting to the return of their children, some of the parents of the students said they had given up hope of seeing their children again owing to reports of several kidnapped victims who had been killed by their abductors.
The parents of one of the students, Donald Fagar, and his wife, Cecilia, said they thought all hope was lost.
Fagar said the incident was the second time his son, Kingsley, a 500-level medical student of the University of Jos would be walking through the shadow of death, adding that each time, he escaped by a whisker.
He said the first incident was when he was attacked and injured on August 15, 2022, by hoodlums during a religious crisis.
“I give God all the glory today because this is the second time my son will be passing through this same trauma. Kingsley almost lost his life two years ago on August 15. Again, this one also happened on August 15, so it’s by the grace of God that he is coming out,” said Cecilia, Kingsley’s mother.
She added: “Since the news of the release, I have been receiving phone calls; friends, family members, and neighbours congratulating us as we look forward to welcoming our son home anytime soon.
“My son called me that they were being taken to Abuja and complained that his two legs were swollen from trekking from one location to another with the kidnappers all through the bush with nowhere to sleep as they were drenched anytime it rained.”
When the news broke that the students had been released, sympathisers thonged their home.
At the Kukumu home of Paul Shantong, one of the 20 abducted university students, one of the well-wishers, Hanatu Gyang, described Paul’s release as a great relief.
“I’m a neighbour to Paul Shantong. Paul has a twin sibling and they are just two that his parents gave birth to. Since the news of his abduction filtered into this community, it was as if somebody died. It’s really a big relief to some of us because the thought of losing him, a medical student, to kidnappers, was unbearable.”
Another well-wisher, John Philip, said he and his two brothers visited Paul’s family to celebrate with them.
However, the police have narrated how the students were rescued.
According to a source involved in the rescue operation of the students, one of the kidnappers was shot dead by the combined operatives which included the DSS ,army and the police, while two of the kidnappers were arrested.
The source further said the location where the students were kept was tracked with the use of drones and helicopters.
“The operation was coordinated by the National Security Adviser in Abuja. The kidnapped medical students were tracked down around Ajide forest in Ukwonyo council ward, Ado LGA of Benue State.
“You will observe that some helicopters had been hovering around in the past few days while officers, including the military, DSS, and the police were deployed.
”Luckily, we were able to get the spot on Friday while they (kidnappers) tried to shield themselves with the victims. But with massive pressure, they tried to escape and in the process, one of them was neutralised and two apprehended.”
The students upon their rescue were flown to Abuja and are currently receiving treatments at the National Intelligence Agency clinic.
“They should be reunited with their loved ones by Monday or Tuesday,” the source said.